H6 Overheating

[kortina]

Hi,

I have a 2005 Outback H6 with 115,000Km on it, and over the last 1500km it has overheated (not boiled) 3 times on longer trips.

We were 2 hours into a trip and the car went to 3/4 on the gauge. Stopped and put 3.5L of water in!
Back to normal.

Two weeks of little driving and the car was not overheating, put 1L in it.

Fresh full radiator, drove from Canberra to the coast (2Hours), with a trailer and two dirt bikes (600?Kg). Slight temp raise.
Next morning, car took 1L of water.

I have had the radiator pressure tested for about an hour, and it was fine but lost some fluid (500ml). Replaced the cap just in case.


I suspect that the headgasket may be stuffed. The oil is clean, so maybe just pushing coolant into the cylinder?

I will be dropping the car into our Subaru specialist (Haigpark) next week, but was looking for comments on what you all think it might be.

[Robbks]

Subaru's don't tend to mix oil/water when a head-gasket has gone.

you've said you had the radiator pressure tested and it was fine, but lost fluid?
I don;t understand what you mean by that.

drop by a workshop, get a TK test done to check to see if the gaskets are toast.

[kortina]

So the pressure test passed by maintaining a good pressure in the radiator.

No fluid leaked on to the ground, thermostat opened. So it would seem that the radiator, hoses and thermostat are all in order.

Once the test had stopped, the radiator needed to be topped up with 500ml.

My guess is that because the fluid did not get lost onto the ground, it must have been pushed into a cylinder and sent out the exhaust as steam?

Bit strange that the car has not missed a beat, no stutter, no mis fire, no change in acceleration !?

[Tradewind]

Something you can do

The hose going from rad cap to overflow bottle, cut the end of it at 45 degrees angle instead of just straight. Believe it or not mine was sucking onto the bottom of the bottle and not allowing refill of the radiator at cool down cycle.

At least it will always refill then - gauranteed

[bates91]

mine had overheating problems temp was all over the place and inconsistent. radiator cap seal was buggered. replaced, all good now.

[Zaccy182]

If your from ACT I would recommend taking it to mick and josh at Techworkz in tuggeranong! No doubt Mick will know what's wrong...

[Robbks]

If your from ACT I would recommend taking it to mick and josh at Techworkz in tuggeranong! No doubt Mick will know what's wrong...

That's the easiest option..!

[Black Dragon]

If everything is good including your spark plugs, water coolant and oils, it must be your cat converters

[valadares]

H6 engine is so heating,the gasket is not problem,it is so easy to open heads and change the gasket,but it will be good to test your heads for cracks and blown.

my friend was drive his car,so much time with blown gasket,after 20000km(like your problem) blown right head

[BUDDAH]

Seen you tow do you have a oil cooler fitted?